Posted on 01/25/2016 1:10:31 PM PST by BenLurkin
On January 24, 1986, NAS's Voyager 2 spacecraft reached Uranus. It was the first and only time we have ever visited the mysterious gas giant. 30 years ago, Voyager 2 closely studied the planet for 5.5 hours as it soared within 50,600 miles.
"We knew Uranus would be different because it's tipped on its side, and we expected surprises," said Ed Stone, project scientist for the Voyager mission. Stone continues in his role as project scientist to this day.
Much like how Pluto is surprising scientists today, Uranus stunned 30 years ago. The up-close study of the planet revealed it to be the coldest planet known in our solar system. Yep, even colder than Neptune. How? Uranus doesnât have an internal heat source.
Voyager 2's data told scientists Uranus' atmosphere is made up of 85% hydrogen and 15% helium.
One of the biggest surprises came from Uranusâ magnetic field. It was unlike anything scientists had seen before. Most planets in our solar system (Mercury, Earth, Jupiter and Saturn) have magnetic fields aligned with their rotational axis.
"Then we got to Uranus and saw that the poles were closer to the equator," Stone said. "Neptune turned out to be similar. The magnetic field was not quite centered with the center of the planet."
... What exactly would any probe hope to accomplish? Then, the instruments needed to complete these objectives. This is the exciting part. Technology is much more advanced than it was when Voyager 2 reached Uranus in 1986. Remember, Voyager 2 launched in 1979. It was using tech that wasn't much older than the Apollo era.
(Excerpt) Read more at newsledge.com ...
Stay upwind!
The thread is doomed. ;-)
These exploration vehicles all have mico-agressing names from European languages.
The next probe to penetrate the mysteries of gas giant Uranus should have a diverse name. Barack 1 would be suitable.
85% hydrogen? No Smoking anywhere near it! If that thing caught fire it would make the Hindenberg look like a wienie roast. Is there enough oxygen to support combustion?
Has uranus been known to “cut the cheese”...so to speak?
"Oh, the humanity."
Million to one shot, doc. Million to one.
All that helium must be what keeps it afloat.
Please stay away from my anus. Thank you for your consideration.
Obunga certainly hopes Reggie will.
Humor has been missing on FR for quite a while.
THANKS!
Don’t worry about that. lol
Yep! A question one would hear in the WH, especially when Reggie’s visiting.
I once asked my astronomy teacher back in the 80s the question, "does uranus emit gas"? He was the only one in the class who seemed to get it.
You can see in that image that Uranus has a giant vortex like the “great red spot” of Jupiter, but because there is so little contrast in the atmosphere, it just doesn’t stand out very much.
We should “Colon-ize” Uranus...
It’s mine! All mine
We have plenty of a-holes down here we can send to start things off.
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